Friday, July 2, 2010

Be a Prepared Bride

Today'sSeed: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. ... But in Keeping with [God's]promise we are looking forward to a newheaven and a new earth, at he homeof righteousness."2 Peter 3:10, 13

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Brides are never caught off guard by their wedding day. On the other hand, robbery victims are always shocked by a theft. Brides are joyfully prepared. Robbery victims are horrified. depending on our level of preparation, the Second Coming of the Lord will cause one of these two reactions: joy or shock.

In the third chapter of Peter, the author talks about the final judgment of the wicked, the end of the world as we know it, and the new heaven and earth. All believers will receive their reward of heaven and joyful like with God. Of this we can be certain.

But just as certain is the end of this world. It is doomed. The sky will disappear, the things that make up the earth's matter will be destroyed, and all the works of people will be burned up.

Believers can rest in the knowledge of a wonderful afterlife with God. The new heaven and earth will have no disease, suffering, pain, sorrow, or death. All the ravages of sin and the effects of the fall will be gone. Evil will be destroyed. It will be so wonderful and beautiful we cannot adequately describe it using words of this world. Isaiah 121:6 says, "The leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them."

In that great day believers--the prepared--will become the bride of Christ.

DigDeeper: This seed says, "the heavens will disappear with a roar". The Greek word for "roar" is only used once in the New Testament, it is a colorful word from the root rhoizoz, which means the noise made by something whizzing through the air. Easily and in a flash, God will destroy this world.

Weed & Water: Just as a bride is thoroughly prepared for her wedding so we are to be prepared for Christ's coming. Peter explains how believers should live. Here are some of his ideas: Be godly by worshiping God in truth. Act holy by being separate from evil. Look forward to Christ's coming. Be diligent to be found spiritually spotless and blameless. Be on guard against false teachers. Grow in grace and knowledge of God.

Sprout & Scatter: Don't be impatient when Christ's Second Coining seems to be slow in arriving. Know that God is waiting so that more people can be saved. We can help to bring this about by praying for those who don't know Christ, by being good examples of what it means to be a Christian, and by telling others about the hope they can have in Jesus.

DISCLOSURE

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